The GENEUS (Geriatric Neurosurgery) project brings together seven centers from Spain, France, and Portugal to develop specific geriatric neurosurgery protocols. The goal is to reduce hospitalization-associated complications and better preserve the autonomy and functional capacity of patients.
Funded with 1.2 million euros by the European program Interreg SUDOE, the study addresses the challenge of an aging population for the healthcare system. Geriatric patients requiring neurosurgical treatment often present complex clinical conditions, such as polypharmacy or associated pathologies like hypertension, diabetes, or cognitive decline.
Dr. Pablo González-López, the project's principal investigator, stated that this situation "significantly conditions the hospitalization process." He noted that "60% of geriatric patients leave a hospital stay having developed a pathology or complication different from the one that motivated their admission."
The project's long-term goal is to lay the groundwork for recognizing geriatric neurosurgery as a clinical subspecialty. Dr. González-López emphasizes the importance of a coordinated multidisciplinary approach with services like geriatrics, internal medicine, or rehabilitation, "to preserve their functional health status during and, especially, after a surgical process."
Currently, the project is in the diagnostic phase, involving an observational study of 300 patients to compare their cognitive, physical, and independence levels before and after hospitalization. Starting in 2027, new measures will be implemented to improve care across various stages of the treatment process.
Significantly, ISABIAL will host the general assembly of the GENEUS project on September 25th. This meeting will gather European experts in geriatric neurosurgery in Alicante to present initial findings and coordinate future strategies.
